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This research explores how receiving help affects self-esteem and proactive behavior, emphasizing dual pathways of competence and belonging.

Threatened competence but strengthened relatedness: The relationship between receiving help and proactive behaviour

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Randomized trial examines effects of receiving help on self-esteem in employees, suggesting relational boosts influence proactive behavior.

This research explores how receiving help affects self-esteem and proactive behavior, emphasizing dual pathways of competence and belonging.
Conducted two studies: an experiment with U.S. employees and a bi-daily experience-sampling design over two weeks.
Study 1 assessed the impact of help recall on self-esteem and belonging.
Study 2 analyzed daily variations in belonging and self-esteem using moderated mediation.
Help recall significantly reduced state competence-based self-esteem while increasing feelings of belonging.
Indirect effects showed belonging influenced relationship crafting, but not task crafting via self-esteem in Study 1.
In Study 2, receiving help predicted greater belonging, with competence-contingent self-esteem moderating both self-esteem pathways.

Zhan et al. (2026) studied this question.

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Randomized trial examines effects of receiving help on self-esteem in employees, suggesting relational boosts influence proactive behavior.